Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Wing Commander E. Ryan, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who witnessed active service in Africa and North West Europe as Navigator and Radio Operator with 153 Squadron, Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Indian Independence Medal 1947 (158605 Flt. Lt. J. E. Ryan, R.A.F.) officially impressed, mounted as worn; together with the related miniature awards, these similarly mounted, good very fine (6) £300-£400

Eric Ryan was born in Forest Gate, London, on 21 September 1915, and spent his early childhood in southern Ireland where his father worked as a doctor. Educated at the Dominican Convent (Dublin) and Salesian College, Farnborough, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 28 June 1940 and was sent to Canada and the United States of America for training as Navigator and radio operator. Returned home to England as Temporary Sergeant, he served in North Africa with No. 153 Squadron from 26 January 1943 to 8 September 1943, being discharged to an Emergency Commission as Pilot Officer on probation 9 September 1943. The recipient’s obituary, adds:
‘His postings thereafter were many and varied, both on flying and ground duties throughout the European theatre of war. He flew in Mosquito fighter/bombers, with the 2nd. Tactical Air Force, becoming based in Belgium, Holland and Germany. Subsequent to the end of hostilities, he was Mentioned in Despatches in 1946, and became involved in the Berlin airlift, when he flew in Dakota aircraft for the duration of this exercise. He was later attached to the Air Defence Staff at S.H.A.P.E. Headquarters, and also spent some time in India during the partition. He served on both Fighter Command, and later, Strike Command, and his final posting was to R.A.F. Malvern.’

Appointed Wing Commander 1 January 1964, Ryan completed No. 111 COMSEC course (senior officers) at G.C.H.Q. Cheltenham in 1969, and took his retirement in September 1970. Together with his wife, Pam, he moved to Gogarth Hall, Llidiartywaen, and subsequently to Waen Lane, Llandinam. Here he became a loyal and active member of the Llandinam branch of the Royal British Legion, being later elected Chairman and President. A standard bearer for the R.A.F.A. Llanidloes branch, his passing at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth on 3 January 2001 was much lamented by the local community, to whom ‘he was a special person and very highly respected’, a man who didn’t talk very much about the war, like many of his generation.

Sold with part of the recipient’s Officer’s Service tunic, bearing his riband bar and Navigator’s wings; with copied R.A.F.V.R. Service Record, the recipient’s obituary, and copied research.